Consulting firm Oliver Wyman estimates that despite efforts to close the gap, airlines in North America will face a shortage of nearly 30,000 pilots by 2032. The supply of new pilots will grow, but not enough to offset a continuing wave of retirements, the consultant says.
We now anticipate a peak shortfall in 2026 of about 24,000 pilots instead of a peak of close to 30,000 once predicted in the wake of COVID-19 early retirements. That still represents about 23% of the pilot workforce, so the problem is far from eliminated.
The root cause of the coming shortage varies by region: In the United States, it's an aging workforce facing mandatory retirement, fewer pilots exiting the military, and barriers to entry, including the cost of training.
Conclusion. The pilot shortage experienced in 2023 is a multifaceted issue driven by increased air service demand, an aging pilot workforce, stringent training requirements, and more. Regions such as North America, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East are among those most impacted by the shortage.
With global aviation racing back to a full recovery, shortages of aircraft, engineers and pilots are hindering the return to 100% pre-COVID capacity. Like most parts of the world, Australia is feeling the pinch of a pilot shortage, but one airline is doing something about it.
Average Qantas Pilot yearly pay in Australia is approximately $131,906, which is 28% above the national average. Salary information comes from 38 data points collected directly from employees, users, and past and present job advertisements on Indeed in the past 36 months.
Australia faces a pilot exodus as more than 1000 aviators leave to work in the US with smaller airlines such as Rex and Bonza feeling the pinch. Australia's airlines have been placed on notice that they need to pay pilots more to keep them, and enhance the profession's appeal to young people.
For every three pilot in the country who finish flying training, there is one who is without a job and this is due to an “oversupply” which will be met in the years to come as airlines grow their fleet, according to Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) chief Arun Kumar.
A short answer is the average airline pilot salary for 2022 was $225,740, but keep reading to learn how to earn at the very top! The average (mean) salary in 2022 was $225,740, and the median salary was $211,790. The average is up from $198,190 in 2021.
A pillar of these reforms is the “1,500 Hour Rule” which requires first officers, also known as co-pilots, to have a minimum of 1,500 hours of flight training time. Since this rule was implemented in 2012, our skies have never been safer.
“Safety considerations drove the establishment of the current international standard of age 65 mandatory retirement, and raising the pilot retirement age would introduce additional risk into commercial aviation,” said Capt. Ed Sicher, the Allied Pilots Association's president.
The Chinese navy plans to recruit women and recent university graduates to become aircraft carrier-based pilots as the country faces a shortage of qualified aviators to operate its ship-borne planes.
Yes, pilots are happy on average.
There are many factors that contribute to the overall happiness of most pilots, including: Pilots get to travel for work.
In terms of job security, becoming a pilot is a very safe bet. With the world's ever-growing population, the demand for air travel will only increase. As a result, pilots will always have a job to go back to. According to the Boeing market outlook, by 2041, Europe will need 449,000 pilots.
According to CAE, 260,000 more pilots will be needed over the next decade. More specifically, a need for 219,000 more airline pilots and 45,000 business jet pilots. Additionally, CAE cites age-based retirement and fleet growth as the top two drivers of pilot demand.
Increasing pilot pay
Regional flying has been particularly impacted by the pilot shortage, forcing airlines to slash dozens of flights to small markets and even ground regional jets. In an effort to attract and retain talent, carriers have dramatically increased pilot wages.
What can I earn as a Pilot? The average annual salary for Pilot jobs in Australia ranges from $100,000 to $120,000.
How much does a Captain at Qantas make? The typical Qantas Captain salary is $119,661 per year. Captain salaries at Qantas can range from $106,767 - $300,000 per year.
Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, and Singapore Airlines are commercial airlines that pay the highest pilot salaries.
Prepared pilots are more likely to pass. In 2021, FAA data showed that 78% of all PPL pilots passed on their first attempt. In that same year, 79.5% of pilots passed their commercial pilot checkride, and the pass rate for CFI checkrides was 77.9%.
As the world continues to rebound from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the aviation industry is poised for a period of growth and evolution. Pilots are at the center of this transformation, as the demand for their expertise skyrockets and new technologies offer fresh opportunities for professional growth.
Established airline pilots are paid very well, with the annual earnings of senior captains around $400,000, some pilots can expect a ten million dollar career in total earnings, illustrated below according to the typical career progression.
According to a survey performed by the union, there are over 1,000 pilots in Australia that are currently without work, which could impede on the expected surge in demand for air travel once restrictions ease throughout the country.
Qantas pilots were considered less likely to head overseas due to the career path the airline offered, and the fact pay rates were generally the highest in Australia.
The airline, which was targeted by unions this week over its labour-hire practices, says a local skills shortage means it needs to look abroad for staff – including 10 officers and training captains for its new A220 fleet – to cope with increasing demand for travel post-COVID.